SSD for potentially about to fail HDD

Pinko

Pinko

Pinko

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15 Feb 2020
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I normally try to do way more research before checking if I'm on track but I'm imminently finishing a college dissertation so my time is annoyingly limited and I think my lone HDD might be on it's way out so apologies if I'm asking something that is well covered already. I am doing daily back-ups to the cloud and an external device but the last thing I need is the HDD to go kaput and to need to wait to get the PC up and running again from scratch.

Over the last two weeks the PC won't boot when first turned on but will reboot OK when turned off holding down power button. It has that Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST) installed which stopped working but some fiddling got it going again which has improved the boot-up when first turned on but not 100%. It's also started to freeze for approx. 1 minute and then there's a loud 'click' from inside - though it only does this once a day - but this continues even with the IRST now working.

My brief reading suggests the clicking could be the HDD and so I'm thinking I should get myself sorted with a new drive, so figure SSD is the way to go. My system specs are below. Would a Blue 3D NAND 1TB 2.5" SATA 6Gbps Solid State Drive (S100T2B0A) be the way to go - I saw this suggested in a post here from searching.

Un-researched questions (apologies)
Do they come with the cables and brackets needed to install or do I need to pick them up? Power cable? SATA cable?

Is there a recommended and safe cloning software anyone could recommend so I can transfer over Windows 10?

System spec
  • Dell XPS 8700 (from 2013)
  • Windows 10 (64-bit OS)
  • Intel Core i7-4770 CPU @3.40GHz
  • 12GB RAM
  • Dell 0KWVT8 Motherboard, version A00
  • Dell D460 AM-02 PSU (I believe this is 460W)

Thanks for any help
 
Could be HDD issue, but could be also PSU or motherboard on its way out.

WD Blue 3D is the moment one of the best priced SSDs.
If case has only 3.5" bays you need adapter.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/akasa-ssd-and-hdd-adapter-2.5-ak-hda-03-cm-019-ak.html

For cables it works with same cables as SATA HDD.
Though you're going to need way to have both drives connected simultaneously for cloning.
So either another SATA cable (doubt that market PC came with extra cable) or then USB drive dock.
 
Cheers for the steer. Just did an intel CPU diagnostic and it's all clear. I'll do a visual check on the motherboard to see if I can see any signs of damage anywhere.

In haste I ended up ordering a Crucial MX500 1TB with mounting brackets with assorted cables. I'll install it and see if the booting up and freezing improves and if not then it'll be onto the motherboard / psu / ram etc.
 
Pinko said:
Cheers for the steer. Just did an intel CPU diagnostic and it's all clear. I'll do a visual check on the motherboard to see if I can see any signs of damage anywhere.

In haste I ended up ordering a Crucial MX500 1TB with mounting brackets with assorted cables. I'll install it and see if the booting up and freezing improves and if not then it'll be onto the motherboard / psu / ram etc.
Click to expand...
It's not like it'll go to waste anyway mate as no matter what you can use it in a new system in worst case scenario...
 
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